The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1887-01-28

SURFING. All was still; SO i passed or
to my berth, and turned in Just as
was, and slept soundly till eigh'
O'Clock.
CHAPTER XIV.
only saw Miss Robertson for a few
minutes at breakfast-time.
The steward. as usual, carried theil
breakfast on tray to the door; and
taking it in, she saw me and came for.
ward
us it all well?" she asked, quickly
and eagerly.
'.All we'll" replied.
''He is in the hold she whispered,
''and no one knows?"
He is in the hold. and the crew be-
lieve to a man, that he is overheard"
at is a good beginning" she af-
firrled. with faint smile playing over
her pale face.
Thanks to your great courage! You
performed your part admirably
''There is that hateful carpenter
watching us through the skylight. -
/ she whispered, withou, raising her
eyes. Tell ME one thing before l 90
when viii the ship reach the port she
is to stop ata'
ST shall endeavor to make it Friday
afternoon.
The day after tomorrow
She clasped her hands suddenly, and
exclaimed, with la.le sob in her voice:
''Oh, let US pray that God will be mer-
eiful and protect u.s.
l had no thoughts for myself a. I
watched her enter her cabin. The sit
uation was, indeed, dreadful one for
so sweet and helpless a woman to be
placed in. l, 4 rough, sturdy fellow.
used TO the dangers of the sea. was
scared at our position when contem-
plated it. Truly might l say that our
lives hung by hair. and that whether
we were to live or perish dismally
would depend upon the courage and
promptness with which the boatswain
and should act at the last moment
1t was worse for me that | did not
know the exact plans of the mutineers.
was aware that their intention was
to scuttle the ship and leave her. with
lis on board, to sink: but how they
would do this / did not know. | mean
l could not foresee whether they would
scuttle the ship while al the crew re-
manned on board. stopping until they
knew the vessel was actually sinking
before taking to the boats, or whether
they would get into the boats. leaving
one man in the hold 10 scuttle the ship,
and. lying by, to take him off when his
work should have been performed.
Either was likely: but one would
make cur preservation comparatively
easy: the other would make 1t almost
impossible.
1 made sure the carpenter would 60
to bed Is soon as he had done break
fast. but instead of doing so he wen:
to the port side of the long boat. ac-
companied by johnson, the cook and a
couple of the hands, and presently ]
heard the fiuttering and screaming of
hens.
l crossed the poop to see what was
the matter. and found all four men
wringing the necks Of the poultry. In
short time. about sixteen hens-all
that remained-lay dead in heap near
the coop. The cook and Johnson gath
cred them up and carried them into the
galley.
Soon after they returned and clam
bered on to the top of the long-boat.
the cover of which they pitched of,
and fell. each with knife in his hand.
upon the pigs. The noise now was
hideous. The pigs s1uealed like human
beings; but both men probably knew
their work, for the screeching did not
last above five minutes
The cook. with his face. arms and
breaches all bloody. flung the carcasses
among the men. who had gathered
round to witness the sport. and deal
of ugly play followed. They tossed the
slaughtered pigs at each other, and
men and pigs fell down with tremen-
dous thuds: and soon there was not :,
man who did not look rs though he had
been rolled for an <.Dur in the gutter of
a SHAMELESS. Their hoarse laughter.
their horrible oaths. their rage not
more shocking than their mirth. the
live men rolling over the dead pigs.
their faces and clothes CHASTITY with
blood-all this was 4 scene which made
one abhor ones self for laughing ut it.
though it WAS impossible to help laugh
ing sometimes. But occasionally nv
mirth would be checked by a sudden
spasm of terror, when I.caught a sight
of . fellow with on iuf,riate face. mon
strous with its crimson co.oring, rush
with his knife at another. and he struck
down like ninepin by dead pig
hurled full at his head before he could
deliver his blow.
The saturnalia came to an end. and
the men. curSing. growing. groaning
and laughing - some reeiing half |
and all painting for breath
surgeI into the forecast.e to clean
themselves. while the cook and John |
son carried the pigs into the galley.
did not quite understand what this |
scene her:ilied. but had not long 10 |
wait before it was explained.
After much delay the decks were
down and two men cleaned |
out the hong boat A large quantity !
Of provisions and rum were then |
stored near the for-mast. ready to be
shipped in the lons-boat.
These preparations brought the
reality of our position home to me.
yet preserved my composure.
Presently the carpenter came to
where was standing. and asked ME
how many hands the long-boat would
larry.
:" About twenty" 1 replied.
lone on top o. t'other. like CATTLE"
he growled. why. mate, there
vOuldn t be standin' room"
'' Do you mean to put of from the
hip in hers''
:. In her and one Ct them Others"